The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-09-10
SOME OUTSIDE COMMENT.
What Our Neighbors Have To Say.

Astoria is at last awakening from its
lethargy. Judge Bowlby, president of
the Astoria Chamber of Commerce, has
appointed committee of fifteen promi-
nent citizens to devise a plan for raising
a bonus of $l50, 900 for a railroad to con-
meet that city with the American railroad
system. This is indeed an important
step, and it augurs well for the future of
Astoria. If Page, Kinney, Flavel, Nor
gan, BoZorth, Leinenweber, Fulton, Meg
Ter, Parker, Trsnchard, Van Dusen, and
others of the bristling, active, and stir
ring citizens of Astoria will Just take
hold, they'll have railroad connection
in Q jiffy. In fact, there is no reason
why Astorians can't build the road them
selves. The plan is simple and easy.
Let them organize a corporation or take
one already organized. Let them lay out
survey and adopt their route so as to
secure the usual privileges over the gov
eminent lands. Then let them take do
natiens of adjacent land from persons
along the proposed route and get all the
subscriptions they can from those inter
ested in Astoria. Then let them begin
construction and at once put their bonds
for the requisite amount on the market.
They can raise money on them at per
build their own road. That is the way
the shrewd spectators are doing in the
South, and through that those states are
Just being gridironed with railroads.
Money Is Just hunting after investment,
and holders are glad to take per cent.
bonds of cities. They jump at Scherner
to loan on railroad bonds with a small
backing of land grants and such. Six
per cent. is very high, and the bonds
must not be at higher rate or a suspi-
cion of their value will be excited. But
the Astoria connection either at Forest
Grove or kalama, is one of the finest
railroad enterprises on the boards. There
would be no difficulty in floating the
bonds of that road and consequently no
difficulty in starting Astoria upon ca
reer of greatness. If q dozen good men
of Astoria will join in, we will show them
how they can have a railway connection
at Kalama or Forest Grove in six months.
The route to Kalama is peculiarly in
viting since it would make Astoria the
terminus of the Northern Pacific in its
fight with the allied lines and would
probably force the Union to go down. This
would gnecessitate the incoming of the
Southern Pacific, and Astoria would sud-
denly become one of the most important
railroad centers on this coast. Let the
men of Astoria bestir themselves. Let
them cease to beg some body else to build
their road, as Portland is begging
outsiders to build its fine hotel.
Let them do the business themselves, and
we will point out to six men how each
can clear big money on the transaction,
and have the plaudits of all true Asto-
rians.-POTtldDd TimeS-DemOcrdt.
A proposition has been made to AS
toria, that if S150, 900 is raised as a bonus,
a railroad with eastern connection will
be built to their place inside of twelve
months. The amount is SO small that in
a place like Astoria, it could be raised in
a day, and if the proposition can be
relied upon the money should be forth
coming at once. We of Pacific county
naturally have an interest In the outcome
of our neighbor on the Columbia, and ii
is with some anxiety that we watch her
progress.-Pacifc Journal.